The Tynecastle side Move 8 Points Clear in Front at the Summit After Lawrence Shankland's Spot-Kick Overcomes Celtic
We did not witness at Tynecastle Park, since it's far too early for such landmarks. This game highlighted is that Heart of Midlothian possess a real strong chance of ending Scottish football's long-standing title duopoly. Make that an eight-point lead for the maroon side over their rivals, whom they easily dispatched. Catch them if you can.
Decisive Period in the After the Break
A brief but pivotal phase were key, following a tight first half that was contested closely. The striking aspect after they extended their advantage was how stress-free the closing stages of the game was for the hosts. Alexandros Kyziridis netted the second goal, drifting inside before blasting a strike past the motionless the Celtic keeper. Delight increased in the stands, the Celtic defender upending the Hearts player for a spot-kick that the captain tucked away. Brendan Rodgers looked dejected; challenges abound for him.
Fans start to rejoice after Kyziridis (second right) puts Hearts 2-1 up against the opposition.
Celtic's Response
The away side responded positively from the hosts' quick opening. Murray, who had a difficult day, scored an own goal due to confusion when trying to clear a Shankland cross. The Hoops worked their way into the game, leader Callum McGregor, finishing a Kieran Tierney cutback for the equaliser.
Stubborn Defence
The keeper Alexander Schwolow, who had made a brilliant stop from Benjamin Nygren in the first half, parried an Engels shot which touched Magnússon. Craig Halkett thwarted a Yamada attempt in the dying moments. Hearts were otherwise untroubled as the minutes passed. “We stand firm” has become the popular anthem at the stadium. It's hard to ignore the excitement.
- Detailed coverage coming soon.
